GANTA, Nimba – Mayor Amos Suah of Ganta has said he has inherited debt from the past leadership in the amount of US$4,800, adding that the amount contained in the city’s bank account cannot settle that debt left by the previous mayor, Benjamin Dokpah.

“When I came into the City Corporation, I met in the account of the Gompa City Corporation the amount of L$98,860.00 [US$617.88], with the amount of US$131.52,” Suah said. “And I met up with a huge debt for the City Corporation that has to do with the land [on] which we dump the garbage… in the amount of US$3,000 and the car we used to collect the garbage… in the amount of US$1,800. If you convert what is in the bank, it cannot pay the debt.”

Under the former mayor, the city had tried to solve kits garbage disposal predicament, with the city negotiating with a private land owner for a suitable location to be used as a garbage disposal site.

“The land was engaged by the past city mayor for the purpose of dumping dirt, but it was not paid for,” Suah told the public. “These are where I stand for now, and where the people of Gompa stand when it comes to finances… we met up with debts, and we got to pay the debts.”

Having agreed to serve as mayor, Suah said he is now obligated to ensure that the corporation is free from any inherited debt.

Unlike Monrovia and Paynesville, which receive an annual allocation in the national budget, Ganta (and all other cities in Nimba) do not receive subsidies from the government.

Suah did not say how his administration intends to raise the money needed to settle its debt.

He was officially inducted into office on Saturday, July 7, at the Wuo-Garpee Tarpia Intellectual Hall in Ganta. During the ceremony, he said he was overwhelmed by the attendance of citizens who came to be a part of his induction. He noted that it was a manifestation of a leadership that is being welcomed by the people.

He vowed not to make empty promises to the citizens about what he would do, during his term as mayor.

“What I can assure them is that, actions will speak for itself,” he added. “But what I can assure the people of this city… is peace, love, unity and development.”

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah